Might as Well Be Dead

I got one from the drawer and went and handed it to Freyer. He studied it a while, shut his eyes, opened them again,and studied it some more. “It could be,” he conceded. “It could easily be.” He looked at it some more. “Or it couldn’t.” He looked at me. “What was it about his face when he turned to look at the crowd?”

“There was life in it. There was-uh-spirit. As I told Mr. Wolfe, he was telling someone to go to hell, or ready to.”

Freyer shook his head. “I’ve never seen him like that, with any life in him. The first time I saw him he said he might as well be dead. He had nothing but despair, and he never has had.”

“I take it,” Wolfe said, “that as far as you know he could be Paul Herold. You know nothing of his background or connections that precludes it?”

“No.” The lawyer considered it. “No, I don’t. He has refused to disclose his background, and he says he has no living relatives. That was one of the things against him with the District Attorney-not evidential, of course, but you know how that is.”

Wolfe nodded. “Now, do you wish to verify my account?”

“No. I accept it. As I said, you’re not a fool.”

“Then let’s consider the situation. I would like to ask two questions.”

“Go ahead.”

“Is your client in a position to pay adequately for your services?”

“No, he isn’t. Adequately, no. That is no secret. I took the case at the request of a friend-the head of the advertising agency he works for-or worked for. All his associates at the agency like him and speak well of him, and so do others-all his friends and acquaintances I have had contact with. I could have had dozens of character witnesses if that would have helped any. But in addition to the prison bars he has erected his own barrier to shut the world out-even his best friends.”

“Then if he is Paul Herold it seems desirable to establish that fact. My client is a man of substantial means. I am not trying to stir your cupidity, but the laborer is worthy of his hire. If you’re convinced of your client’s innocence you will want to appeal, and that’s expensive. My second question: will you undertake to resolve our doubt? Will you find out, the sooner the better, whether your P.H. is my P.H.?”